Vigorously Cultivate and Promote Heroic Culture

The revolutionary cause is a heroic cause, and the people’s army is a heroic army. Heroic culture is an important component of the culture of a strong military, a key engine for boosting military morale and the spirit of combat, and an important pillar for building the strong cohesion, centripetal force, and combat effectiveness of our armed forces. To forever preserve the heroic nature of the people’s army, it is necessary to vigorously cultivate and promote heroic culture, continuously stimulate the heroic spirit and confidence in victory among officers and soldiers, and gather the mighty force for strengthening the military and rejuvenating the cause.

革命事业是英雄的事业，人民军队是英雄的军队。英雄文化是强军文化的重要组成部分，是提振军心士气与战斗精神的重要引擎，是构筑我军强大凝聚力、向心力、战斗力的重要支撑。永葆人民军队的英雄本色，就要大力培育和弘扬英雄文化，持续激发官兵英雄气概和胜战底气，汇聚强军兴军的磅礴力量。

I

一

The Chinese nation is a nation with a heroic complex, and the people’s army is an army that produces heroes in abundance. Throughout history, it has nurtured and given rise to countless heroic figures, forming a profound heroic culture. A great era calls for heroic culture, and heroic culture supports great undertakings. As President Xi emphasized, “Today, China is undergoing rapid changes unseen before, and we are closer than at any time in history to achieving the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To realize our goal, we need heroes and we need the heroic spirit.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, speech at a ceremony presenting awards to national heroes and role models, 2019.

中华民族是一个具有英雄情结的民族，人民军队是一支英雄辈出的军队，历史上孕育并产生了无数英雄人物，形成了深厚的英雄文化。伟大时代呼唤英雄文化，英雄文化助力伟大事业。正如习主席强调的那样，“今天，中国正在发生日新月异的变化，我们比历史上任何时期都更加接近实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标。实现我们的目标，需要英雄，需要英雄精神”。

An inherent requirement for strengthening political loyalty. Loyalty is the essence and core of the political character of Communists, and absolute loyalty to the Party is the foremost political quality of the people’s army and the fundamental guarantee for our military’s continuous march from victory to victory. Only with firm ideals and convictions can one be loyal to the Party, and loyalty to the Party is the best interpretation of firm ideals and convictions. In the New Era, heroic culture, as a mainstream ideology, embodies faith in Marxism, belief in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and confidence in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It possesses the political function of disseminating and correcting officers’ and soldiers’ views on history, values, and heroism. Looking back on the magnificent and arduous journey of our Party and our military, countless forebears always held the pure conviction that “revolutionary ideals are higher than heaven,” adhered to the simple creed that “if the Party gives an order, one will not refuse even unto death,” and radiated the high-spirited determination to “dare to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky.” [2]2 Quotations from revolutionary martyrs and Mao Zedong’s poem “Shaoshan Revisited” (1959). They fulfilled their oath of loyalty through a life of revolution and struggle. Vigorously cultivating and promoting heroic culture means allowing the Communists and revolutionary soldiers of the New Era to receive the baptism of revolutionary traditions, and to remain forever loyal to the Party’s faith, the Party’s organization, and the Party’s cause.

强固政治忠诚的内在要求。忠诚是共产党人政治品质的本质和核心，对党绝对忠诚是人民军队第一位的政治品格，是我军不断从胜利走向胜利的根本保证。理想信念坚定才能对党忠诚，对党忠诚是对理想信念坚定的最好诠释。新时代的英雄文化作为一种主流意识形态，蕴含着对马克思主义的信仰、对中国特色社会主义的信念、对实现中华民族伟大复兴的信心，具有传播和校正官兵历史观、价值观、英雄观的政治功能。回顾我党我军波澜壮阔的奋斗历程，无数先辈始终抱定“革命理想高于天”的至纯信念，坚守“党有指示，虽死不辞”的朴素信条，焕发“敢教日月换新天”的高昂斗志，用革命的一生、战斗的一生践行了忠诚誓言。大力培育和弘扬英雄文化，就是让新时代中国共产党人和革命军人接受革命传统的洗礼，始终忠诚党的信仰、党的组织、党的事业。

An objective requirement for enhancing moral cultivation. President Xi pointed out that one should “feel the moral demeanor from heroic figures and role models of the times, and enhance moral cultivation through self-reflection, understanding great virtue, upholding public virtue, and strictly practicing personal virtue.” [3]3 Xi Jinping, speech at a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Youth League of China, 2022. Looking at the history of the Chinese nation, from Wen Tianxiang, who practiced the maxim “Since ancient times, no one has escaped death; let me leave a loyal heart shining in the annals of history,” and Lin Zexu, who declared, “If it benefits the country, I will give my life for it; how can I avoid misfortune or seek fortune because of it?” [4]4 Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283), Song dynasty poet and official executed for refusing to surrender to the Mongols; Lin Zexu (1785-1850), Qing official who led the campaign against the opium trade. to the “Five Heroes of Langya Mountain” [5]5 Five soldiers of the Eighth Route Army who jumped off a cliff rather than surrender to Japanese forces in 1941. and the “Liu Laozhuang Company,” [6]6 A company of the New Fourth Army that fought to the death against Japanese forces in 1943. and then to the pioneers of the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” [7]7 China’s nuclear bomb, missile, and satellite programs of the 1950s-1970s. and aerospace heroes, these heroic figures are all embodiments of lofty spiritual character, the backbone that manifests the national spirit, and the vanguards leading the progress of the times. The moral demeanor and spiritual power they possess have enduring value that transcends time. Cultivating and promoting heroic culture means disseminating mainstream values, turning it into a “self-conscious form of culture,” forming a favorable atmosphere of valuing virtue and emulating the worthy, so that heroic culture gradually internalizes into good moral character.

提升道德修为的客观要求。习主席指出，要“从英雄人物和时代楷模的身上感受道德风范，从自身内省中提升道德修为，明大德、守公德、严私德”。纵观中华民族历史，从践行“人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青”的文天祥、“苟利国家生死以，岂因祸福避趋之”的林则徐，到“狼牙山五壮士”“刘老庄连”，再到“两弹一星”元勋、航天英雄等，这些英雄人物都是崇高精神品格的化身、彰显民族风骨的脊梁、引领时代前进的先锋。他们身上蕴含着的道德风范和精神力量，具有穿越时空的恒久价值。培育和弘扬英雄文化，就是要传播主流价值观念，让其成为一种“自觉形态的文化”，形成明德惟馨、见贤思齐的良好氛围，使英雄文化逐渐内化为良好的品德风范。

An inevitable requirement for comprehensively building a world-class military. President Xi pointed out: “A hopeful nation cannot be without heroes, and a promising country cannot be without pioneers.” [8]8 Xi Jinping, speech at a ceremony presenting awards to national heroes and role models, 2019. The people’s army, having gone through the smoke of war and hardships, has overcome obstacles and fought bloody battles, producing tens of thousands of heroic figures. Some sacrificed their lives and fought the enemy fearlessly on the battlefield; some were diligent and dedicated in their posts; some were innovative and scaled new heights in their work; some shouldered heavy responsibilities for the country and the nation in the performance of their duties. The heroic culture forged from these resounding names and immortal achievements stirs the righteous spirit that has never been interrupted in the Chinese nation for thousands of years, embodies the glorious traditions of our Party and our military, is the spiritual foundation cast by the blood and lives of revolutionary martyrs, and is an invaluable spiritual asset for comprehensively building a world-class military. On the new journey of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation, forging the military’s soul under the Party’s banner and striving to strengthen the military, culture plays a more fundamental, deeper, and more enduring unique role. Vigorously cultivating and promoting heroic culture means creating a strong atmosphere that encourages heroes to emerge in competition, inspiring the bloody courage and fighting spirit of officers and soldiers, tempering the excellent work style of the troops, and building an indestructible spiritual Great Wall for the people’s army.

全面建设世界一流军队的必然要求。习主席指出：“一个有希望的民族不能没有英雄，一个有前途的国家不能没有先锋。”人民军队历经战火硝烟、艰难困苦，一路披荆斩棘、浴血奋战，涌现出了成千上万的英雄人物。他们或在战场上舍生忘死、奋勇杀敌，或在岗位上兢兢业业、甘于奉献，或在工作中锐意创新、勇攀高峰，或在履职尽责中为祖国和民族担当重任。由这些响亮的名字和不朽的功绩淬炼形成的英雄文化，激荡着中华民族数千年来从未间断的浩然正气，凝结着我党我军光荣传统，是革命先烈用鲜血和生命铸成的精神底色，是全面建设世界一流军队弥足珍贵的精神财富。强国建设、民族复兴的新征程上，在党的旗帜下铸牢军魂、奋斗强军，文化具有更基本、更深沉、更持久的独特作用。大力培育和弘扬英雄文化，就是要营造鼓励英雄竞相涌现的浓厚氛围，激励官兵血性斗志，淬炼部队过硬作风，为人民军队构筑起坚不可摧的精神长城。

II

二

Heroic culture is rich in connotation and profound in meaning. It is the most vivid and iconic cultural memory of a country and a nation, and an indispensable historical and cultural soil and inner spiritual force for凝聚 national sentiment and national will. To vigorously cultivate and promote heroic culture, it is necessary to grasp its distinctive characteristics, deeply explore its rich spiritual connotations, and make heroic culture more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

英雄文化内涵丰富、意蕴深刻，是一个国家和民族最形象、最具标志性意义的文化记忆，是凝聚民族情感与国家意志不可或缺的历史文化土壤与内在精神力量。大力培育和弘扬英雄文化，必须把握其鲜明的特征，深掘其丰富的精神内涵，让英雄文化更加深入人心。

Heroic culture contains both an eternal and unchanging spiritual core and has the distinctive quality of advancing with the times. Heroic culture has national, historical, and inherited characteristics. Heroes of different eras inherit common national genes and manifest unique national qualities. However, heroic culture is not immutable; it is closely linked to the issues of a specific era and develops continuously with the progress of the times. Entering the New Era, President Xi interpreted the distinctive qualities of heroes as “loyalty, perseverance, and simplicity.” [9]9 Xi Jinping, speech at a ceremony presenting awards to national heroes and role models, 2019. In practice, the heroic culture of the New Era has given birth to many spiritual treasures, such as the great spirit of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, enriching the connotation of the national spirit and the spirit of the times, and demonstrating the enduring and ever-renewing vitality of heroic culture.

英雄文化既蕴含永恒不变的精神内核，又具有与时俱进的鲜明特质。英雄文化具有民族性、历史性和传承性，不同时代的英雄传承着共同的民族基因、彰显着独特的民族品质。但是，英雄文化并非一成不变，而是与一定的时代课题紧密相连，随着时代的发展不断发展。进入新时代，习主席把英雄的鲜明品格诠释为“忠诚、执着、朴实”。实践中，新时代英雄文化又孕育出伟大抗疫精神等诸多精神瑰宝，丰富了民族精神和时代精神的内涵，彰显出英雄文化历久弥新、生生不息的生命力。

Heroic culture both insists that the people are the creators of history and emphasizes the role of heroic figures in promoting history. Heroes come from the people, and a heroic people create a heroic history. Heroic culture is based on the historical materialist view that the people create history, emphasizing that the people are the driving force behind world history and are the true heroes. At the same time, heroic culture does not deny the role of heroic figures in promoting history; it affirms that heroes are the advanced elements and outstanding representatives among the people, emerging under specific historical conditions and playing a leading role in the process of social development. On the new journey, we vigorously cultivate and promote heroic culture, aiming to propagate the heroic spirit that prioritizes national interests, and to call on all officers and soldiers of the military to persevere like heroes and role models, and to struggle like heroes and role models.

英雄文化既坚持人民群众是历史的创造者，又强调英雄人物对历史的推动作用。英雄来自人民群众，英雄的人民创造英雄的历史。英雄文化是建立在人民群众创造历史的唯物史观基础上的，强调人民群众才是创造世界历史的动力，是真正的英雄。同时，英雄文化不否认英雄人物对历史的推动作用，肯定英雄是人民群众中的先进分子和杰出代表，产生于特定历史条件，在社会发展进程中发挥了引领作用。新征程上，我们大力培育和弘扬英雄文化，旨在宣教以国家利益为重的英雄精神，是要号召全军官兵像英雄模范那样坚守、像英雄模范那样奋斗。

Heroic culture both highlights that heroes create greatness and emphasizes that ordinary people can achieve greatness. Indeed, every hero writes an extraordinary story and influences the development of social history. However, as President Xi pointed out, “As long as one has firm ideals and convictions and an unremitting spirit of struggle, and does every ordinary thing down-to-earth, all ordinary people can achieve an extraordinary life, and all ordinary work can create extraordinary achievements.” [10]10 Xi Jinping, speech at a ceremony presenting awards to national heroes and role models, 2019. The people’s heroes of the New Era include not only outstanding scientists, astronaut crews traveling through the vast heavens, and the memorable “most beautiful逆行者的” [11]11 A term used in Chinese media for frontline workers, especially medical staff, during the COVID-19 pandemic. but also ordinary laborers on various fronts, in various industries and systems, who dedicate their blood, youth, and wisdom to the prosperity of the motherland; they are both those shining names and upright benchmarks, and also ordinary officers and soldiers in ordinary positions. Greatness comes from the ordinary, and the ordinary creates greatness—this is the inherent meaning of heroic culture in the New Era.

英雄文化既突出英雄创造伟大，又强调平凡造就伟大。诚然，每一个英雄都书写着非凡的故事，影响着社会历史的发展。但是，正如习主席指出的那样，“只要有坚定的理想信念、不懈的奋斗精神，脚踏实地把每件平凡的事做好，一切平凡的人都可以获得不平凡的人生，一切平凡的工作都可以创造不平凡的成就”。新时代的人民英雄，既有杰出的科学家、遨游九天的航天员乘组、可歌可泣的“最美逆行者”，也有奋斗在各条战线、各个行业、各个系统，为祖国的富强奉献热血、青春和智慧的普通劳动者；既是那些闪光的名字、挺立的标杆，也包含平凡岗位上的普通官兵。伟大出自平凡，平凡造就伟大，这是新时代英雄文化的题中应有之义。

III

三

Heroic culture is the foundation and soul of the people’s army, and also a powerful support for cultivating revolutionary soldiers with “Four Haves” [12]12 “Four Haves” (四有): revolutionary soldiers with ideals, morality, culture, and discipline. and forging an excellent military with “Four Irons.” [13]13 “Four Irons” (四铁): a military with iron-like faith, conviction, discipline, and responsibility. We must advance with the times and adapt to new circumstances in light of the characteristics of the new era, grasp the direction, guide the orientation, manage the positions, and strengthen the team, continuously improving the methods and paths for cultivating and promoting heroic culture.

英雄文化是人民军队的根基所在、灵魂所系，也是培育“四有”革命军人、锻造“四铁”过硬部队的有力支撑。我们要结合新的时代特点因时而进、因势而新，把方向、抓导向、管阵地、强队伍，不断改进培育和弘扬英雄文化的方法路径。

Optimize methods of propaganda and education. Carrying out propaganda and education work on hero culture through multiple measures can effectively create a positive atmosphere throughout the military of respecting heroes, learning from heroes, and striving to become heroes, allowing hero culture to inject a continuous stream of spiritual motivation into strengthening the military and rejuvenating it. It is necessary to fully leverage the main channel role of the classroom, make good use of vivid teaching materials such as the portraits of model heroes across the military [14]14 “Portraits of model heroes across the military” (全军挂像英模) refers to a set of standardized portraits of ten designated military heroes displayed in all units of the People’s Liberation Army, established in 2018 to promote their exemplary deeds. and the deeds of historical heroic figures, integrate the heroic deeds and heroic spirit of heroes into ideological and political education, and continuously deepen officers and soldiers’ cognition, identification with, and practice of hero culture. It is essential to effectively improve the narrative methods for publicizing heroes, change the habitual practice of abstracting and formalizing heroic figures, avoid deliberate elevation or exaggerated propaganda, make them approachable, credible, and learnable, and enhance the persuasiveness and appeal of hero culture education. Ritual education should be strengthened; taking opportunities such as the National Honorary Title Conferment Ceremony [15]15 The National Honorary Title Conferment Ceremony (国家荣誉称号颁授仪式) is a state ceremony held by the PRC to confer the highest national honorary titles, such as “People’s Hero,” typically on the eve of National Day. to widely publicize the deeds and spirit of heroic models, guiding officers and soldiers to consciously inherit the red gene [16]16 “Red gene” (红色基因) is a Party metaphor for the revolutionary traditions and ideological heritage of the CPC, passed down from the revolutionary era., concentrate on military training and combat readiness, and realize the dream of a strong military.

优化宣教方式。多措并举开展英雄文化的宣传教育工作，能够有效营造全军崇尚英雄、学习英雄、争做英雄的良好氛围，让英雄文化为强军兴军注入源源不断的精神动力。要充分发挥课堂主渠道作用，用好全军挂像英模、历史英雄人物事迹等生动教材，将英雄人物的英雄事迹、英雄精神融入思想政治教育，不断深化官兵对英雄文化的认知、认同和践行。要切实改进宣传英雄的叙事方式，改变把英雄人物抽象化、程式化的习惯做法，避免刻意拔高或夸大宣传，使他们变得可亲可近、可信可学，增强英雄文化教育的说服力和感染力。要加强仪式教育，以国家荣誉称号颁授仪式等活动为契机，广泛宣扬英雄模范的事迹和精神，引导官兵自觉传承红色基因、聚力练兵备战、实现强军梦想。

Flexibly utilize diverse carriers. Flexibly employing various traditional and emerging carriers can allow the heroic spirit to nourish the soul and cultivate virtue in a subtle and silent manner. It is necessary to create fine literary and artistic works, adhere to the unity of profound thought, exquisite artistry, and excellent production, strengthen the creation of realistic themes, and strive to produce more original literary, film and television, musical, and other artistic works that praise heroes, serving the grassroots and serving officers and soldiers. Platform resource construction should be strengthened; continue to build and make good use of fixed yet vivid carriers such as heroes’ former residences and martyrs’ cemeteries, promote the preservation and dissemination of heroic deeds and heroic relics, give full play to the educational and transformative function of physical objects, and shorten the distance between heroes and officers and soldiers. Diverse communication models should be improved; keep pace with the development trend of all-media integration, utilize new technologies such as 5G, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, open up the multi-dimensional resources of “newspapers, websites, terminals, microblogs, and screens” [17]17 “Newspapers, websites, terminals, microblogs, and screens” (报、网、端、微、屏) is a standard Chinese media term referring to the five main channels of all-media communication: print newspapers, online portals, mobile app terminals, microblog platforms, and screen-based displays., make heroic images leap onto the “screen,” use the power of technology to vividly tell heroic stories, and pass on the heroic spirit.

活用多元载体。灵活运用各种传统和新兴载体，能够让英雄精神在春风化雨、润物无声中起到滋养心灵、涵养德行的作用。要创造文艺精品，坚持思想精深、艺术精湛、制作精良相统一，加强现实题材创作，着力打造更多礼赞英雄的文学、影视、音乐等文艺原创作品，服务基层、服务官兵。要抓好平台资源建设，继续建好用好英雄故居、烈士陵园等固定又鲜活的载体，推动英雄事迹、英雄遗迹的保存与传播，发挥好实物教育感化功能，拉近英雄与官兵的距离。要完善多元传播模式，紧跟全媒体融合发展趋势，运用5G、大数据、云计算、物联网、人工智能等新技术，打通“报、网、端、微、屏”多维资源，让英雄形象跃然“屏”上，用科技的力量讲活英雄故事，传承英雄精神。

Improve institutional mechanisms. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [18]18 The 18th National Congress of the CPC (党的十八大), held in 2012, marked the beginning of the Xi Jinping era and the launch of the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party campaign., the Party and the state have solemnly held hero commendation ceremonies, carried out hero commemoration activities, promoted the creation of heroic literary and artistic works, advanced legislation for the protection of heroes, and the cultivation and promotion of hero culture has gradually been placed on an institutionalized, ritualized, and routinized track. On this basis, it is further necessary to establish and improve normalized and systematic guarantee mechanisms. Efforts to protect heroes according to law should be intensified; on the basis of implementing the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs” [19]19 The “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs” (《中华人民共和国英雄烈士保护法》) was enacted in 2018 to legally protect the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs, and to criminalize their defamation., illegal acts that slander, insult, spoof, and harm heroic figures should be severely cracked down on according to law. Normalized mechanisms should be established and improved; in response to problems in some places such as hero propaganda and education methods becoming detached from reality and formalized, and being tight at times and loose at others, normalized safeguard measures should be formulated to eliminate abnormal practices such as “making a big fuss,” “swarming in,” and “splashing water everywhere” [20]20 “Making a big fuss,” “swarming in,” and “splashing water everywhere” (大呼隆、一窝蜂、水花四溅) are colloquial Chinese idioms criticizing campaign-style, short-lived, and superficial approaches to work, as opposed to sustained and systematic efforts., ensuring that hero propaganda and education are carried out on a normal basis. Commendation and assistance for heroes should be strengthened; improve and perfect supporting compensation and subsidy policies, especially for those heroic models who sacrificed their lives to protect the interests of the people and uphold justice, and increase assistance and care for their descendants and family members.

完善制度机制。党的十八大以来，党和国家隆重举行英雄表彰仪式，开展英雄纪念活动，推进英雄文艺创作，推动英雄保护立法，培育和弘扬英雄文化逐步走上制度化、仪式化和日常化的轨道。在此基础上，还需要进一步建立完善常态化体系化保障机制。要加大依法保护英雄的力度，在落实好《中华人民共和国英雄烈士保护法》的基础上，依法严厉打击诋毁、侮辱、恶搞和损害英雄人物的不法行为。要建立健全常态化机制，针对一些地方英雄宣教方式脱实向虚、形式固化、时紧时松等问题，制定常态化保障措施，杜绝“大呼隆”“一窝蜂”“水花四溅”等非常态化做法，确保英雄宣教常态开展。要加强对英雄的褒奖和帮扶，健全完善配套补偿补助政策，特别是对那些为保护人民利益和维护正义而牺牲生命的英雄模范，要加大对其后代和家属的帮扶与关怀。

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧